International support urgently needed to address spiraling refugee crisis

  • Reference: MDE 14/037/2007
  • Published on 27/07/2007
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As Jordan prepares to host a new conference on the crisis caused by the continuing exodus of refugees from Iraq, Amnesty International today called for urgent international action to assist Syria and Jordan - the countries most affected by the refugee flow - both financially and by establishing generous resettlement programs for the Iraqis in greatest need of protection.

"More than two million Iraqis have now fled the sectarian violence raging in their country and almost two million others are internally displaced," said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme. "Most of the refugees have escaped to Syria and Jordan, placing great demands on these countries' resources, and threatening a humanitarian crisis that could engulf the region unless concerted international action is taken now."

In a new briefing prepared following a visit to Syria, which now hosts around 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, Amnesty International praised the authorities for keeping their border with Iraq open although some 30,000 new refugees are estimated to flow through it each month.

"The Syrian authorities have responded very positively to the Iraqis' needs, but they and the Jordanian authorities should not be left to bear the weight of this crisis alone," said Smart. "It is vital that states who pledged funds to help at a previous conference last April honour their commitments, which all too few have done to date."

Amnesty International said that $US 25 million pledged by Iraq's government had still not materialised.

"This is a crisis that was made in Iraq, not in Syria or Jordan, and the Iraqi authorities have a duty now to help its neighbours meet the needs of Iraqis who have been displaced."

Amnesty International called also for the US, UK and other states contributing troops to the Multi-National Force (MNF) in Iraq to follow the lead of the Danish government and provide for the resettlement of Iraqis whose lives are now at risk because they are seen to have assisted the foreign forces, as interpreters, drivers and in other roles.

Last Friday, the Danish government admitted to having secretly airlifted about 200 translators and other Iraqi employees of its troops out of Iraq. Most are expected to seek asylum in Denmark. The US ambassador in Iraq has also called for all Iraqis working in support of the US government to be offered refugee status.

"Those who have worked with foreign forces are not the only people at risk," said Smart. "The US, UK, EU and other states that have the capacity should provide generous resettlement programmes for the refugees who are most vulnerable and at greatest risk, including survivors of torture and others who urgently need medical care."

Amnesty International's briefing, released on the eve of an international conference being hosted by the Jordanian government in Amman, follows a three week visit to Syria by the organisation in June. The organisation's delegates interviewed dozens of Iraqi refugees, both men and women, who had been tortured and, in some cases, raped. Most are traumatised, with little hope of receiving treatment.

Humanitarian assistance reaches a very small minority of Iraqi refugees in Syria. Many refugees interviewed by Amnesty International said they received no food and that their savings had dried up.

Some Iraqi families have even resorted to forcing their daughters to engage in prostitution to earn money just to survive. Child prostitution and trafficking of Iraqi children is said to be growing, to the concern of the Syrian government.

"The situation of Iraqi refugees is dire and worsening by the day, despite the efforts of the Syrian authorities and local and international humanitarian organisations," said Smart. "The response of the international community must go beyond accepting token numbers of refugees from Iraq - their assistance must constitute a significant part of the solution to this terrible crisis."

For more information please see: Iraq: The situation of Iraqi refugees in Syria

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